Reflection

I saw this on another blog and thought is was appropriate, at least for me, as I reflect on this past year and look to next year. I want to be thankful and praise God in the good and the hard times in my life.
We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot. Whatever your cross, whatever your pain, there will always be sunshine, after the rain... Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall; but God's always ready, to answer your call... He knows every heart ache, sees every tear, a word from His lips, can calm every fear... Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night, but suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light... The Savior is waiting, somewhere above, to give you His grace, and send you His love.

O Christmas Tree

Yes, I do have one more post for today. I have a lot of stuff to catch up on and I'm finally getting to the here and now. We were a little late in putting up our Christmas tree this year. It usually goes up the day after Thanksgiving, but for some reason I've been a little behind on just about everything I do this year. So, we put it up last weekend.

Jadon was so excited he kept saying, "so what are we going to do now? I know we could put decorations on the tree." Todd put the tree up before the kids went to bed so when they woke up they just couldn't wait to put the decorations up.

We had a great time, Jadon especially as he is old to enough to be of help. We also added a new tree to the house this year. A 4 foot tree for the kitchen. The kids have been collecting ornaments of their own so we decided to do a tree just for them. They got to decorate it however they chose. The only thing I did was put the snowflake lights on it. It was a little hard for me not to go behind them and move some of the ornaments, everything is positioned on the bottom of the tree and all in one area. But, they did a great job and were very proud of their own special tree.

Jadon and Haven putting ornament on their tree, okay I confess I did help coach them in some places to put ornaments. In the picture of Haven she has on this onesie that the Hirsch family got her when she was a baby, it's a size 6 month. Anyway, she was determined she was going to wear it and other than being able to snap it she still can wear it. I guess you're never too young to want be able to fit in your old clothes.

A picture of our Christmas tree in the living room.

Welcome Cael

Cael Steven Wallace was born December 3 and is a beautiful little boy with thick, long black hair. He and mom, Lindsay, are doing great. The kids got to see him for the first time on Friday. They couldn't wait to meet him.

Jadon and Haven loving on baby Cael.

Our Thankful Season

We had a great fall (I know it's not officially winter, but when I start decorating for Christmas it becomes winter to me), going to festivals, decorating our porch with pumpkins and ending that time with Thanksgiving and all the things we are thankful for.

Jadon: Mommy, Daddy, Haven, Jude, Nana & Papa, Mema & Pappy, Aunt Mal, my cousins.

Haven: (her exact words) my Daddy and nothing else

A park we've particularly grown fond of held their first fall festival, so the kids, Nana and I took part in the festivities. There was face painting and a hay bale play area and Jadon and Haven made chicken feed and fed the chickens. Haven got her face painted like a butterfly while Jadon chose Spiderman. Jude chose to be the cutest baby around so we didn't have to paint his face. A dear friend that works with my, who is also extremely talented, decorated some pumpkins for the kids. Mom came over with 5 pumpkins painted with cute faces and our names on the back. Jadon and Haven loved them! Thanks Nana and Robin.

front row: Mommy, Jude, Haven, Daddy back row: Jadon

Jadon had a theme for dressing up this year, he was really into Spiderman. So, for Halloween, you guessed it, he was spiderman. Haven's wasn't really a costume, but she looked so extremely cute in her pumpkin outfit and Jude was the cutest puppy.

Better Late Than Never

Okay, so in the midst of my absence in blog world I didn't get Jadon's birthday blogged. We celebrated in October his 4th birthday. I still can't believe how fast he's grown up. It seems like yesterday he was this little bundle of extreme cuteness with an extremely bald head. He was perfect in every way. His beautiful porcelain looking skin, big eyes and soft completely bald head. Yes, I know I keep mentioning his bald head, but the kid literally had no hair, not one piece of hair on his head until he was like 1. None the less he was perfect.

Now, he's 4 and can't wait to go to school, get married, be a daddy and a heavy equipment worker/conductor/pilot. (italicize added.)

He is so smart, he loves learning, much like his daddy. He has been doing addition for about 6 months now and he is working on subtraction. He is really into learning how to read. So, all day he works on his phonics. He's even started working on sounding out words he sees as we're driving.

He's just memorized his 13th memory verse since September, mostly working in the gospels. I pray that one day the words will become real in his to him. That they will not be words that fall from his lips and mean nothing, but that God's Word would penetrate his heart.

And for the most wallet challenging change of this wonderful 4 year old. His feet, which no longer fit in toddler shoes. We now get the unfortunate privilege of buying youth sizes, which if you are not there yet, let me just say, "ouch"! My check book chokes a little when I say Jadon needs new shoes. I have found wonderful new stores to shop at to find the best possible deals for the best possible shoes. Any advice on places to shop for athletic shoes would be greatly appreciated.

For their birthdays we let the kids plan the entire menu. I was quite excited when Jadon informed me that he wanted birthday pancakes for his dinner. Excited because Todd often talks about when his grandparents were alive the entire family would get together and have pancake dinners. His grandfather who was a cook in the military would whip up his pancakes and Todd's dad would make peanut butter syrup. This is a very fond memory for Todd.

So, I couldn't wait to tell Todd what his son wanted to have for his birthday meal. Todd wished he had his grandpa's pancake recipe, but he researched the Internet and found what he thought would do. At Jadon's family birthday party we had Todd's homemade pancakes with Pappy's peanut butter syrup and bacon and sausage. I think it was enjoyed by all and Todd got to be the man of the house making the pancakes for his family, taking pride in it much like his grandpa.

Here are some pictures of Jadon's birthday party.

I'm Back

For those very few, and I say that with the utmost gratitude of those who keep up with my family, who read this I am finally back in the blog world. I can't believe how long it's been since my last post.

I took a break from all blogs, those I read, stalk and even my own. No reason other than I've been so busy with family, work, and most importantly spending some quality time with God.

I've been needing to do that last one for quite some time. Just have some time where I sit and listen. Sit and listen, the things I hear when I do that. I wish I would take advantage of those times more often. I lead myself to believe I am listening when I'm really just getting through. Then He ever so calmly reminds me to quiet and listen.

So, now I will hopefully be back to my 4-7 posts a month. Maybe more this month since I have a lot to catch up on. And mom please tell Robin I will get those pictures of the kids and our hand painted family of pumpkins up for her.

Eight Wonderful Years

I know I'm a little behind on updating my blog, and I do have many things I would like to talk about, I just haven't really had time to sit and put it all down. I hope to do some updating soon. But I couldn't let this day pass without sitting down to write something.

Today, 8 years ago, Todd and I stood before our friends and family and God and made a commitment to a life together serving and loving God and loving each other through every good, bad and everything in between.

About a year ago I saw a news piece on marriage and the alarming study that more than half of married couples divorce in the seventh year of marriage, if not before. They related this trend to the fact that it takes about 7 years for our cells in our entire body to regenerate themselves. So, like our cells we change our likes, dislikes, interests after 7 years.

There is even actually a lady governmental figure in Canada that is trying to get passed into law that when a couple takes their vows they are good for 7 years. After that 7 years the couple would be free to go their separate ways or could recommit to 7 more years. Does this send a sick feeling through you as it did me when I saw it?

Shortly after Todd and I lost Karis our doctor who was so loving and caring informed us that when a couple experiences just a tragic loss in their lives only about 25-30% of those marriages stay together. That means 70-75% of marriages end in divorce.

This humbles me. Because as Todd and I have said many times throughout our lives and marriage, "but not for the grace of God, go I". That our being married for 8 years and "making it past the seventh year" and "making it through a tragic experience" is not because of anything we've done, but for God's grace in our lives and in our marriage.

We are both thankful and grateful for parents who have been married for 30 years and 40 years who have set examples of honoring the commitment they made to one another. But most of all we are thankful for God's grace in our marriage and we pray every day that He would continue to show grace in our marriage.

I have the privilege to be married to a man whom I love very much and is my best friend. He brings safety to our family in many ways; first in his walk with the Lord, by providing for our family, being our protector and being a loving, kind father to our children.

I can't wait to see how and where the Lord leads in the next year and for many more to come.

I love you my sweet man!

This beautiful arrangement is what Todd blessed me with today.

I Want To Remember This

Last night I was fixing dinner, fish and sweet potato fries. I heard some of the sweetest words from Jadon.

A little background first, usually when I fix dinner I get hit with I don't want that or I don't like that. Which I usually follow by saying, "sorry that's what we're having" or "yes you do, you at it and liked it the last time we had it".

Jadon at times just doesn't want to eat what has been picked for him to eat. Maybe this is another way his independance is trying to manifest. But, from the beginning I've never planned to make more than one meal for my family to eat. What I fix is what's for dinner end of discussion.

So, back to last night while fixing dinner Jadon came to the kitchen and here is our conversation:

Jadon, "That smells good."

Me, "Thank you Jadon."

Jadon, "You are a gooood cook."

Me, "Thank you Jadon."

Jadon, "I like your food."

Me, "That makes mommy feel good that you like her food."

Jadon, "I do."

So, the next time I hear complaining about the food I'm fixing I will remind myself of this night when I was a good cook.

Mommy Down 1, Daddy Up 1

I knew this day would come. Todd even helped prepare me for this day when we found out we were pregnant with a boy.

The day where our son would want more to do with Daddy than Mommy. Up until recently, for the most part, Jadon and I have been like peanut butter and jelly. Now, it's him and Daddy.

He wants to go with Daddy everywhere, he wants Daddy to take him to bed, he wants Daddy when he's in trouble, it's all Daddy.

I've done quite well with this whole change thing. Until today when he was telling stories to Daddy and he was telling him about his castle and that the top floor had two gold chairs and one red chair, the gold chairs belonged to Jadon and Daddy and the red one belonged to Haven. My chair was yellow and on the middle floor.

I've been demoted. Not only is Jadon growing up and needing his Daddy more, I've lost status even in his stories.

So, I've become the mom that lives on the middle floor all by myself.

At least I still have Haven and Jude for a little while longer. I will cherish the time I have with them wanting Mommy and Mommy being the greatest thing since tutti fruiti dessert baby food.

News break: My spirits are somewhat lifted by Jadon coming into the living room while I am typing to let me know I could be the Mommy and Todd could be the grandpa; he and Haven are playing house. Take that Daddy!

We All Had A Little Jump Mania

I met a dear friend from school and her daughter and son, which are the same ages of Jadon and Jude, for a playdate in Springfield on Friday. Jump Mania just opened a few months ago and is full of inflatables. It's a very nice set up, with inflatables for all different ages, and tables set up all around for the moms and dads to sit at while you try to keep an eye on your child. One of the things I like best is the measures they take to make sure no one can leave with your child but you.

This was our first experience at this new, wonderfully busy with kids running every where place. I'm not usually a paranoid mom, but I do like to have vision of my children in public places at all times so my heart did a little racing when I realized that wasn't really possible.

I did my best and when one of my children got lost and stuck in the largest of the inflatable obstacles I went in after her. Thankfully my dear friend, if that is what she would be called at that moment, did not have her camera right then. Otherwise there would probably be pictures of me trying to climb through an area they call "the squeeze".

It's exactly how it sounds. There is a short wall that you have to climb up while another part comes down, so you have a very small area to get through. An area that even Haven had a hard time getting through, but duty calls and you do what you need to do, right?

I'll just say Haven was threatened to not go in that inflatable again.

Jadon was such a good big brother, walking behind Haven while they climbed up the wall. This is Jadon trying to make it through the squeeze. The same one I had to try to fit my body through. Jadon and Haven along with my friend's daughter. This is a friend Jadon made while there. After we left he asked me if he could take his friend to Cubbies. There was even an area for Jude to crawl around and toys for him to play with. Can you tell his excitement?